I have a friend who is likely going to post some questions on the list shortly. Meanwhile - I just can't stand the suspense....to hear what people think the answer is.
Two wethers, dry flakey skin and loss of hair on legs. Sounds like rest of body is generally ok. Legs seem itchy and might have scabs in a few places.
Boys are fed only hay I believe.
Goat have not had any copper bolus or supplementation other than what is in basic mineral supplement - can't remember the brand, although they did as babies 2 years ago. Minerals do have that ammonium chloride or whatever it is that people think wethers need.
Owner did research and thought maybe this was zinc issue and her vet suggested a zinc supplement that she has been using - doesn't seem to be helping.
Another friend thought mites or lice. Owner checked for lice - can't find any. Vet did check for mites in recent past and found none.
I've suggested copper bolus, sunflower seeds and another person suggested to add flax seed.
What do you all think?????
Replies
Sorry Myra, I just saw this. The best one I found is THIS. The goats really liked it. I went through 2 bottles, and then tried another brand. The new one they don't like as much. It seems to foam in their mouths when they eat it, and they're not so fond of it. I forget what brand that one was, but it was a cheap generic pharmacy brand.
Myra Isaac said:
I tried DE a LOT a few years ago, and ultimately I didn't find it to be effective. My poor does itched so much more after I put it on them than before, and I think it's because it dried out their skin badly. When adding it to their feed, I had one doe get a nosebleed, probably from the DE drying out her nasal passages. And unfortunately it didn't get rid of the worms or lice. Since mites are under the skin, I wouldn't expect it to work them at all. Here is a post about one of my DE experiments:
http://www.homegrownandhandmadethebook.com/2013/10/raising-livestoc...
We've been raising pigs for about 11 years, and the only ones that have ever needed a dewormer are those that had worms when we bought them. But once they were dewormed, they never got them again. My oldest pigs now are five years old and never been dewormed with anything.
On the subject of baking soda, you should put it in a mineral feeder and have it available 24/7 free choice. A goat could eat something that upset their rumen at any time, so you want them to have access to the baking soda when needed. Putting it in their feed increases their sodium intake unnecessarily. They should NOT need baking soda regularly. If they do, there is a feeding problem that needs to be addressed. You are basically giving your goats an antacid every time you feed them, and that's not a good idea. Years ago, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) was the main ingredient in Rolaids, but they switched to calcium carbonate due to concerns about too much sodium in the diet.
connie watson said:
Deborah, what is your opinion on using food grade DE with your goats to kill worms inside and rubbing on their legs fo mites or lice? I use it on my dogs, chickens, in their coop and use it in my hog feed to prevent worms in my pigs. Haven't tried it on my goats yet. It seems if it gets rid of fleas and mites on chickens it should work for goats too. I give my goats baking soda in their feed which will prevent bloat. I put a teaspoon in their sweet feed every morning.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
HI All,
Happy Summer (almost!) I hope your goat's coats (say that 10 times fast!) have all grown back! My boys' coats grew back beautifully, maybe it was the copper, the vitamin shot, the carrots or just the spring warmth and sun!
On another matter, one of our spring chicks (12 weeks now) is a rooster. He is a Polish Bantam, just charming and cute but we just can't have a rooster in our neighborhood. I know they make rooster collars but we would rather he go to a good home were his "cockadoodalldooing" will be appreciated.
Please let me know if you have any advice.
Thanks!
Sarah
Patty Meyer said:
I've had mostly Nubian and mini-Nubian goats that have had this, but my Nigerians have had it too. We aren't so much into the warm and sunny weather yet, and certainly not getting any pasture. Still snow, and now mud. We are having some improvement now even in the two does who had hair loss on the base of the ears. I think 2 years ago at this time we had some ND does who had bald noses, a ring around each eye that was hairless and a band around the base of each ear about a quarter inch wide that was hairless. I didn't know about the zinc deficiency then, but it did clear up in the summer.
Hi Myra. :) They are all doing much better, but the two that had the most issues took longer to show improvement than the others. They love their zinc tablets! They mob me for their "treat". :) Most of the time I give it through the fence, because if I don't I'm full of little goatie mud hoof prints.
Myra Isaac said:
So appreciate all the thought and discussion over the last few weeks! Thank you all! My wethers are better after COWP, Ivermectin, Nustock, sun and warmer weather! My brown goat's coat is almost completely grown in and the white and black goat is much better (except for some bare, pink patches on his legs). Nustock seems to help alot!! I did blanket them when they were very bare which they seemed to appreciate. What a mystery this all is! Comforted to know I'm not alone! Happy Spring all!
Good point, we are in Michigan, north of Detroit. North indeed.
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